DATE=5/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232201
TITLE=PAK NUCLEAR (S)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN HAS REITERATED ITS RIGHT TO PROTECT ITS OWN
NATIONAL AND SECURITY INTERESTS IN THE WAKE OF A SERIES OF
NUCLEAR TESTS BY NEIGHBORING INDIA. AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS, THE
FOREIGN MINISTRY WAS COMMENTING, EVEN AS PRESIDENT CLINTON
DISPATCHED A SPECIAL ENVOY TO PAKISTAN TO ENCOURAGE RESTRAINT.
TEXT: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, TARIQ ALTAF, TOLD
JOURNALISTS THE GOVERMENT'S DEFENSE CABINET MET FOR THREE HOURS
THURSDAY.
MR ALTAF SAYS THE CABINET DECIDED PAKISTAN IS TAKING ALL
NECESSARY STEPS IN THE INTERESTS OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND RETAINS
ITS RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE IN THE FACE OF INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
AT A LIVELY NEWS CONFERENCE IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD,
MR. ALTAF WAS PRESSED BY REPORTERS TO GIVE A DATE FOR A NUCLEAR
TEST BY PAKISTAN. THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE
QUOTING AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES WHO SAY PAKISTAN IS
PREPARING FOR A TEST, WHICH MAY HAPPEN SUNDAY.
MR ALTAF DID NOT ANSWER, BUT QUERIED INSTEAD WHY U-S SATELLITES
DID NOT PICK UP INDIA'S PREPARATIONS FOR NUCLEAR TESTS ON MAY
11TH AND 13TH.
// ALTAF ACT //
I WONDER WHAT THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE WAS DOING BEFORE
MAY 11TH? MY OWN FEELING IS THAT THEY HAD SOME
KNOWLEDGE.
// END ACT //
MR ALTAF SAYS THE VISIT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ENVOY -- STROBE
TALBOTT -- WILL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PAKISTAN TO BRIEF THE
UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/MMK
14-May-98 9:00 AM EDT (1300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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